Flood: Rice processors urge restraint on importation

The Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN) has called on the Federal Government to resist the call for massive importation of rice to mitigate the impact of the recent flood disaster in the country.

Chairman of the association, Mohammed Abubakar, who made the call in Abuja at a news briefing, said there was no need to entertain any fear as “there are adequate stocks of rice in the country to meet immediate demands.

“It is our view that there exists 600,000 tonnes in the country and with rice harvest starting in November, additional stock of up to half a million tonnes will be added to the national food stock.’’

While urging the government to avoid orchestrated panic and doomsday projection, he said government should carefully consider appropriate measures and response that would not “damage our national interest,’’ adding that from preliminary investigations in the flood affected areas, it is estimated that about 40 per cent of the rice crop may have been lost, particularly in the lowlands and swampy areas near the major rivers.

“This may create a supply shortage of about 1.5 million tonness in the local availability of paddy, translating to milled rice shortfall of about one million tonnes.

“This should not create a major food crisis or food shortage to the level being touted by rice merchants and speculators, who are advocating massive rice importation.’’

Applauding the government’s policy on rice production, the association said investment in rice processing had exceeded N200 billion in the past four years.

Noting that the Federal Government was working on the establishment of 40 new rice mills in 2013 in addition to the existing 15, the association expressed belief that the country would in the next two years stop importation of rice.

It, therefore, called on the government not to allow the efforts put in place to be jeopardised by saboteurs of the economy.

It also called for the establishment of a minimum producer price for paddy harvested to enable farmers to survive and rise from the adversity.

“If it becomes inevitable to meet the shortfall from local capacity, then it can be done through importation, and the import permits should be issued to bona fide local investors in the relevant sub-sector.’